STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Melissa and Alex Tacoronte of Roma Avenue in New Dorp Beach say every time it rains, they hold their collective breath.

Pre-Sandy, post-Sandy, they say the catch basins in their neighborhood can't handle a sustained downpour --like the one last Thursday -- that had Mrs. Tacoronte drive up onto the sidewalk so her young son could make his way to the front door of their house without having to swim there.

"You get an inch of rain, you get back flow into the house," said Mrs. Tacoronte. "A heavy rain, you're flooded curb to curb."

Oddo and Matteo said the city Department of Design and Construction has done "90 percent of the work," but needs the promised millions in the pipeline pronto to proceed.

They said if the money isn't "shifted around" and in place by the end of October, it could be years before the three projects come to fruition.

"Fully funded projects leap-frog those that aren't," said Oddo (R-Mid-Island), the GOP candidate for borough president. "These should be priority projects."

Oddo said he's taken it up with the city Department of Transportation and Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway, to no avail.

"This work is designed to make people's lives better," said Oddo.

"The city can't delay these projects," said Matteo, Oddo's chief of staff. "They need relief now. They shouldn't fear every time it rains."

They noted that after the funding is secured and the designs refined, the city Law Department has to review acquisition plans to take up to 12 inches from hundreds of property owners to widen streets to accommodate new sewers.